Systems and methods for launching and retrieving objects in aquatic environments; platforms for aquatic launch and retrieval
a technology for launching and retrieving objects and platforms, applied in special-purpose vessels, underwater equipment, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve problems such as high vessel and crew time, damage to load or launch/retrieval vessels, unsafe conditions for personnel and equipment in the area,
Active Publication Date: 2016-07-05
OCEANGATE INC
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Entry of the load into and exit of the load from a turbulent “splash zone” at and near the water surface can be treacherous and may damage the load or the launch / retrieval vessel, and may as well produce unsafe conditions for personnel and equipment in the area.
Vessel and crew time are expensive, and the expense incurred as a result of launch and retrieval vessel and crew requirements may limit the frequency of launch and retrieval operations, particularly in remote locations.
While this system allows subsea launch and retrieval of submersible vehicles from a sub-sea location that is isolated from surface conditions (waves, etc.), it requires significant assistance in terms of personnel, and any failure of the active depth control system may result in damage to, or loss of the LRT or its payload.
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[0021]Systems and methods for launching and retrieving objects in aquatic environments and, particularly, for deploying payloads including submersible vehicles, equipment, systems, and the like, underwater and retrieving them from underwater locations are described in greater detail below, with reference to the appended figures. In general, a submersible platform may be provided in the form of a barge-like structure (or another platform structure) having a buoyancy control system, such as a ballast control system in combination with ballast reservoir(s) sufficient to provide floatation of the platform and its payload, controlled submersion of the platform to a desired subsea depth, and retrieval of the platform (with or without the payload) from a subsea location to the sea surface. The buoyancy control system may be controlled at the site of the submersible platform or from another vessel or location using remotely controllable ballast control systems. In some embodiments, the subm...
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Systems and methods for launching and retrieving payloads in aquatic environments employ a platform that is both floatable and submersible at the discretion of and / or under the control of a user, on which submersible objects to be launched, delivered to a subsea location and / or retrieved (the payload) may be located. The platform is generally maneuvered to a desired site in a buoyant, floating state and is submerged, with the payload coupled to the platform, at the desired site. One or more buoyant elements is coupled to the submersible platform by cable(s), line(s), chain(s) or other coupling mechanisms. When the platform is submerged, the one or more floatable element(s) remain at or in proximity to the sea surface and support the platform in a submerged condition. The platform has a relatively large mass and, when submerged, acts as a dampener, while the buoyant element(s) and associated line(s) / cable(s) / coupling mechanism(s) act, relative to the submerged platform, as classic spring.
Description
REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 863,848, filed Aug. 8, 2013. The disclosure of the priority patent application is incorporated herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for launching and retrieving objects in aquatic environments, and to platforms for accomplishing aquatic launches and retrievals. The disclosure relates, more particularly, to methods and systems for deploying and retrieving payloads such as submersible vehicles, equipment, and the like, used for subsea operations. More particularly yet, this disclosure relates to methods and systems that permit payloads to be safely and conveniently launched and retrieved in rough sea conditions and in disparate geographical locations without the need for personnel to be in the water and without the need for dedicated ships, cranes or other specialized, ship-dependent hardwar...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): B63B35/00
CPCB63B35/00B63B2736/00B63B35/28B63B2035/405B63C11/40B63G8/22B63G2008/002B63G2008/425
InventorRUSH, III, RICHARD STOCKTON
OwnerOCEANGATE INC